# Imports of Cattle and Beef Hit Historical High in 2020 - R-CALF USA

> R-CALF USA says US imports of cattle and beef reached a record of nearly 2 million metric tons in 2020, based on USDA trade data. The group also notes that fed cattle averaged about $1.09 per pound, the lowest in a decade, while retail beef prices hit a record average.

- Date: 2021-02-11 · published 2021-02-11T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: trade · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/48572-imports-of-cattle-and-beef-hit-historical-high-in-2020-r-calf-usa
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Record beef imports add supply to the US market and pressure domestic cattle prices, though strong retail prices suggest demand remains firm.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bearish ▼
- LCATTLE: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2025-11-07 | [Beef Market Update: Political noise and import talk weigh on cattle prices - RealAgriculture](https://feedsoft.ai/events/8354-beef-market-update-political-noise-and-import-talk-weigh-on-cattle-prices.md) | -0.4% | -2.5% |
| LCATTLE | 2025-10-28 | [Cattle Markets React to Policy Uncertainty on Beef and Cattle Imports \| Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter](https://feedsoft.ai/events/6337-cattle-markets-react-to-policy-uncertainty-on-beef-and-cattle-imports-ohio-beef.md) | -1.4% | -8.8% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-07-27 | [U.S. to resume limited Mexican cattle imports as beef supplies tighten \| TPR](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18295-u-s-to-resume-limited-mexican-cattle-imports-as-beef-supplies-tighten-tpr.md) | -0.6% | -2.9% |
| LCATTLE | 2022-10-12 | [No Imports or Exports Would Result in a Smaller U.S. Beef Cattle Industry - Oklahoma Farm Report](https://feedsoft.ai/events/39089-no-imports-or-exports-would-result-in-a-smaller-u-s-beef-cattle-industry.md) | +1.2% | +4.5% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-07-27 | [USDA plans phased reopening of southern cattle ports on Aug. 24  - High Plains Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18299-usda-plans-phased-reopening-of-southern-cattle-ports-on-aug-24-high-plains.md) | -0.6% | -2.9% |
| FCATTLE | 2025-11-07 | [Beef Market Update: Political noise and import talk weigh on cattle prices - RealAgriculture](https://feedsoft.ai/events/8354-beef-market-update-political-noise-and-import-talk-weigh-on-cattle-prices.md) | +4.6% | +5.3% |
| FCATTLE | 2025-10-28 | [Cattle Markets React to Policy Uncertainty on Beef and Cattle Imports \| Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter](https://feedsoft.ai/events/6337-cattle-markets-react-to-policy-uncertainty-on-beef-and-cattle-imports-ohio-beef.md) | -2.7% | -10.8% |
| FCATTLE | 2026-07-27 | [U.S. to resume limited Mexican cattle imports as beef supplies tighten \| TPR](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18295-u-s-to-resume-limited-mexican-cattle-imports-as-beef-supplies-tighten-tpr.md) | +0.8% | -3.1% |

## Sources

- r-calfusa.com: https://www.r-calfusa.com/imports-of-cattle-and-beef-hit-historical-high-in-2020/

---
Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.